Wrench head with coaxial jaw pivot and handle connection



W. A. MAXWELL WRENCH HEAD WITH COAXIAL JAW PIVOT AND HANDLE CONNECTION Aug. 25, 1953 v Filed Sept. 16, 1949 INVENTOR WILLARD A. MAXWELL ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRENCH HEAD WITH COAXIAL J AW PIVOT AND HANDLE CONNECTION 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pipe wrenches Which are particularly adapted to be used in connection I with the handles that come with socket wrench sets.

The primary object of the invention is to Provide pipe wrench jaws that can be operated by the handle of socket wrench sets.

Another object of the invention is to provide pipe wrench jaws that are compact and light in weight, thereby adding little to the weight of the kit of tools being carried by the mechanic, this being due to the fact that he can use the handle from his socket wrench set to operate the jaws.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates my new and improved pipe wrench jaws having the handle of a socket wrench set associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side view of the jaws having the handle removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2, taken on line 33.

Figure 4 illustrates the jaws and part of the handle, and shows the jaws being applied to a pipe.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the jaws of the pipe wrench in disassembled or exploded position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved pipe wrench jaw set consists of a single jaw I, and a double or split jaw 2 consisting of two parts 3 and 4. A hub 5 forms part of the jaw l and is adapted to receive the collars 6 formed integral with the members 3 and 4 of the jaw 2. The jaws are assembled by slipping the collars 6 over the hubs 5 and joining said members 3 and 4 of the jaw 2 by rivets I, or other suitable means.

Running through the hub 5 is a rectangular opening or socket B which is adapted to receive the driving extension 9 of the handle 10. I do not wish to be limited to any type of handle or extension. I have illustrated a pivotally mounted extension drive in the drawings, as this is usually the type that comes in the socket wrench sets, and is well adapted for operating my pipe jaws.

The jaws l and 2 are forced towards one another by a spring [B which pivots at its apex about a pin I1 fixedly secured to the jaw 2 and which has one of its ends engaging a socket l8 located within the outer periphery of the head section of jaw I which divides the hub 5 into two laterally extending hubs. The opposite end of the spring [6 is bent at right angles at [9 to engage the inner face of the jaw 2. When the jaws open up, the socket I 8 engages the adjacent end of the spring and compresses the latter about thepivot ll, whereby to resist the Opening of the jaws I and 2.

Therefore, under normal operation, the jaws are pressed towards the object being gripped. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that spring l6 may be omitted, if desired, and the jaws pressed together by hand during operation of the wrench.

In the operation of my new and improved pipe wrench jaws, the socket handle It is applied thereto by way of the drive extension member t and the jaws applied to the pipe as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. When pressure is applied on the end of the handle III in the direction of the arrow, Figure 4, the teeth H formed on the jaw I will engage the pipe ii at l3, while the teeth [4 of the law 2 will engage the pipe at the points (5-. The harder the pressure applied to the handle H) the more firm will be the gr p on the pipe [2, due to the fact that the pressure being applied on the handle will force the jaw l in the direction of the arrow, or towards the pipe, due to its pivot connection to the jaw 2 by way of the collars 6 riding on the hubs 5.

The jaws of the wrench need not be applied to pipe alone, as the principle is well adapted to regular wrench jaws to be applied to nuts and bolts.

As stated above, the primary object of my invention is the provision of an assembled pair of wrench jaws having a minimum of weight and to which the standard socket wrench set handle can be applied for operation, thereby eliminating considerable weight in the overall tool k t that the mechanic has to carry about.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An open end wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, an elongated jaw having at its inner end coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, and a second elongated jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinall of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs, said handle being connected detachably to and coaxially with the hubs for actuating the jaws.

2. An open end wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, an elongated jaw having at its inner end a head separating coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, and a second elongated jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs, said handle being connected detachably to and coaxially with the hubs for actuating the jaws.

3. An open end wrench comprising, in combination, an elongated jaw having at its inner end coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, 21. second elongated jaw having its inner 3 end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted p votally said hubs, and connecting means on the hubs formed coaxially therewith and adapted to removably receive a tool for actuating the J' 4. An open end wrench comprising, in combination, an elongated jaw havinglat its inner end coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, and a second elongated jaw having'its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs, said hubs having a non-circular socket extending transversely of the jaws and coaxially with the hubs to removably receive a non-circular tool for actuating the jaws.

5. An open end wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, an elongated jaw having at its inner end coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, a second elongated jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs, and spring means interengaging said jaws and normally urging said jaws together, said-handle being connected detachably to and coaxially with the hubs for actuating the jaws.

'6. A wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, a jaw having at its inner end a head separating coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, the head having a notch therein, a second jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs and-an interior wall spaced from the head of the first named jaw, a stud spaced from said interior wall and extending between the spaced bearings, and a spring mounted on the stud and having its opposite ends engaging said notch and said interior wall, respectively, and normally urging said jaws together, said handle being connected detachably to and coaxially with the hubs for actuating the jaws.

7. A wrench comprising, in combination, a jaw having at its inner end a head separating coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, the head having a notch therein, a second jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs and an interior wall spaced from the head of the 'first named jaw, a stud spaced fromsaid interior wall and extending between the spaced bearings, a spring mounted on the stud and having its opposite ends engaging said notch and said interior wall, respectively, and normally urging said jaws together, and connecting means on the hubs formed coaxially therewith and adapted to removably receive a tool for actuating the jaws.

8. An'open end wrench comprising, in combination, an elongated jaw having at its inner end a head separating coaxial hubs extending transversely of'the jaw, a second elongated jaw having its inner end slotted longitudinally of the jaw to form spaced annular bearings mounted pivotally on said hubs, said head and hubs having a noncircular socket extending transversely of the jaws and coaxially with the hubs to removably receive a non-circular tool for actuating the jaws.

'9. An open end wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, an elongated jaw having at its inner end coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, a pair of elongated jawforming sections provided at their inner ends with spaced confronting portions of reduced thickness, said portions forming spaced annular tions forming spaced annular bearings mounted on said hubs, means for connecting the pair of jaw-forming sections together to form an integral second jaw, spring means interengaging said jaws and normally urging said jaws together, and connecting means on the hubs formed coaxially therewith and adapted to removably receive a tool foractuating the jaws.

11. A wrench comprising, in combination with a handle, a jaw having at its inner end a head separating coaxial hubs extending transversely of the jaw, the head having a notch therein, a pair of jaw-forming sections provided at their inner ends with spaced confronting portions of reduced thickness, said portions forming spaced annular bearings mounted on said hubs, said sections and spaced portions defining an interior wall spaced from said head, means for connecting the pair of jaw-forming sections together to form an integral second jaw, a stud spaced from said interior wall and extending between the spaced bearings, and a spring mounted on the stud andhaving its opposite ends engaging said notch and said interior wall, respectively, and normally urging said jaws together, said handle being connected to and coaxially with the hubs for actuating the jaws.

12. A wrench comprising a one-piece jaw having at its inner end a cylindrical head from opposite sides of which extend coaxial hubs, the head having a peripheral notch, a pair of jawforming sections provided at their inner ends with spaced confronting portions of reduced thickness, said portions forming spaced annular bearings which are pivotally mounted on said hubs, said sections and spaced portions defining an interior wall spaced from said cylindrical head, pins connecting the pair of jaw-forming sections for integral movement, a stud spaced from said interior wall and extending between said portions, and a spring mounted on said stud and having one end fitting in the notch and the opposite end engaging said interior wall, said spring biasing said sectional jaw toward said onepiece jaw, the head and hubs of the one-piece jaw having a transverse non-circular socket to removably receive a non-circular tool for actuating the jaws.

WILLARD A. MAXWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I ra- 

